The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-09-17
A Little Village Maid.
BY ALICE DALE.

1t would be difficult to determine why
Eloise Kendall entered into marriage en-
gagement with Lewis Burial
She was not yet twenty, and he was long
past thirty.
She was beautiful as dream, delicate as
a flower, and as bllthesome as wild bird.
He was unhandsome, gaunt and muscu-
lar, and of manner stern and reserved.
Eloise had never fancied she loved him
in fact, the magic word had meyer been
spoken between them.
Without any impassioned professions of
sentiment, he had asked her to be his wife,
and without any unwonted thrill of her
heart she had assented.
Perhaps lovely little Eloise considered
the engagement as something preordained
for her.
Perhaps she felt "A certain pride in being
the afiianced of the richest, the most hon
ored, and the most influential man in the
small village which bounded her humble
world.
Perhaps there was an irresistible fascina-
ton in the prospect of being mistress over
the fine old stone mansion on the hill over
looking the modest dwellings of the pictur-
esque streets below, the store, the shops,
and even the church itself.
That she had high esteem for her be-
trothed was undeniable; that she had some
real liking Cor him was equally so.
In his quiet and reserved fashion he had
been her kindly counselor and unfailing
champion from her earliest childhood.
She had learned to regard him as pleas
ant fixture ana necessity of her existence
she had never questioned herself what life
might be without him. Her family regard
ed the engagement only as a natural and
expected state of affairs and their opinions
coincided with her own.
!, But her heart had slept, only TO be awak
ened with pang of bitter discomfort when
handsome Carol Vandervon appeared upon
the scene.
Mr. Vanderyon was an elegant and aris-
tocratic young gentleman from the city and
was a summer guest of ono of the villagers.
He declared himself surfeited with fashion
able excitements; he preferred the rest and
quietude of the picturesque rustic retreat to
all the social charms which Newport or the
CatslSills could offer him.
he was fond of angling, and the deep,
pellucid pond behind the ruined old mill up
the shadowy creek, afforded him excellent
opportunities to indulge in his tavorite
pastime.
And II was there one fateful morning he
met beautiful Eloise, tripping blithely over
the dewy MOSES, her broad straw hat fall
ing back from her long, golden curls, her
little hands full of wild flowers no sweeter
nor more delicate than her own fair face.
AT an opening among the trees at turn
in the path, she stopped with a surprised
blush and startled, girlish exclamation.
Before her, so near she had almost
upon him, reclined the half-sleep-
ing angler-an Adonis with crisp black
curls clustering above classlcally-cut fea-
lures of patrician pallor, his lazy black eyes
with flashing smile of admira-
lion at the fair vision which had so sudden
y appeared before his sight.
81 beg pardon" said he, arising quickly
and CALAMITY touching his hat
"It is | who should do that; for see, YOU
are losing your line; it is going up stream
with the fish you caught," Eloise said
simply.
1T is going with the fish l haven't
caught" he laughed.
The laugh made them friends at once.
With meriment nppling in music from
her coral lips, the little village maid sprung
after the fugitive line, and together they
landed the game.
20, what beauty Wouldn't grandpapa
be delighted with one like thatp' Elolse
exclaimed lnnocently.
"Your gandpapa shall have it," Mr..
declared promptly and gallant
ly. And in return you will give me bunch
of your pretty white violets."
She gave him the violets. and blushed
rod as the Wild roses rustling on the bank
beside them as he placed the bunch with
impressive care over his heart.
st shall be kept as memento of the
pleasaniest hour Of my life, " he said, with
his lazy, handsome eyes dxed admiringly
upon her sweet, blushing face.